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Here is an alternate theory which is plausible based on the current information.

From the AP article at  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090611/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/brazil_plane_278

“Airbus said it sent an advisory to airlines June 8 analyzing the automatic messages transmitted by the doomed Air France jet. Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said one of the messages showed a change of cabin pressure equal to an altitude change of more than 1,800 feet (548 meters) per minute. Schaffrath said Airbus does not have enough information to interpret this yet.”

Image by daspaddy via Flickr

There are several possible scenarios that would cause this kind of cabin pressure change, all involve a significant breach of the cabin.  One likely one is the official speculation (and it is not more than speculation) that the plane could have encountered some weather that damaged it.  But there are others a second being a catastrophic failure of the cabin or airframe not related to high stress.  This has happened to at least one 737 type aircraft over Hawaii as the result of metal fatigue.  Several crashes with this cause occurred in the early days of commercial jets with the British Comet.  Although we have learned much these failures at times still haunt us with aircraft as they age.  And let’s face it, the French are very reluctant to admit the Airbus has any problems.  The third likely reason is sabotage.  France is rife with radical elements from Communists to Islamists.  They don’t like to admit it but France is a breeding ground for terror.  This plane could have been brought down by a small bomb.  The bodies need not bear traces of the act and in fact the French would have much reason to hide this.

It would be better to have the public think it was Air France not replacing the pilot tubes because when that is done, everything is fixed.  Air France and the French Government have reason to try to hide the real cause and planting speculation is as good a way to hide it as any.